We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
Last night Verizon reported its most recent financial results. The prepared remarks didn't contain anything too interesting that I noticed. But the analyst Q&A session did bring up something I think RIM should be worrying about.
Analyst Phil Cusick from JP Morgan asked Verizon if there is anything they can do to control iPhone subsidies. Verizon's CFO, Francis Shammo answered him with the following quote, which we've taken from the Seeking Alpha transcript.
On the Apple iPhone, look, I think as I've said before, we look at every individual handset, we have a broad portfolio. We manage it by handset-by-handset and manage our subsidy and again, that's just one aspect of our P&L. And this is just a nature of this business that's grown from the beginning of the industry that we subsidize handsets. I do think though it is important that there is a third ecosystem that's brought into the mix here. And we are fully supportive of that with Microsoft, and as we said that we created the Android platform from beginning. And it is an incredible platform today that we helped to create. And we're looking to do the same thing with a third ecosystem. So that's how I think that we plan to go into the future here.
I think it's worrying to see Verizon, the carrier ultimately responsible for the success of Android, to be talking so clearly about plans to push Windows Phone. Not only have they said this, but they have said it in a context that directly implies there will be a third ecosystem. Not a third and a fourth. There was absolutely no mention of BlackBerry anywhere.
Perhaps it is too early to discuss BlackBerry 10. The alpha hardware isn't even in developer's hands yet. That happens the first week of May during BlackBerry World. But I think this Q&A session with Verizon does show very clearly that there is no time for waiting. There is no time for RIM to get it 100% perfect before launching. Sure, they have to deliver an awesome experience. And they have to make sure the important stuff is done right. But if they bring the cake to the party after everyone leaves ... you get the point.
This Verizon comment is yet another confirmation, to me, that everything is marketing. This is a phrase I picked up from the book "Rework", written by the founders of 37 signals. Every time RIM talks to its carrier partners, it is marketing. Having a huge carrier quoted like this (essentially snubbing you) is failure to DO marketing.
I think I'm going to start calling the CMO position the Chief Medical Officer. We're bleeding. We need help. Fast.
Read more
Verizon preparing to roll out OS 10.1.0.2050 for the BlackBerry Z10
If you're a BlackBerry Z10 owner on Verizon and still waiting for them to roll out BlackBerry 10.1, we're now officially one step close to that happening. Verizon has finally updated their BlackBerry Z10 support page with the information for OS 10.1.0.2050 (Software version 10.1.0.2014) and with that updated, it's certainly only a little bit longer before folks start seeing the update...
Now that's what I like to see... Apple telling you to buy a BlackBerry
Well, not quite. But close. The illustrious Rene Ritchie, Editor in Chief or our iOS sibling site iMore, pointed out this morning that if you visit Apple's Youtube channel, there are Verizon BlackBerry 10 ads running on it. Sure enough, I clicked over to Apple's Introducing iPhone 5 video, and upon hitting play was greeted by this Verizon BlackBerry 10 ad. This is pretty funny (to me at...
CrackBerry Vodcast 002: Better than expected!
Things could have went south today. But they didn't. BBRY's earnings held up, and it's looking like Verizon is going to be giving the BlackBerry Z10 some love. All in all, a good day.
Verizon BlackBerry Z10 unboxing!
I like to finish what I start, so we're rounding out our trifecta of unboxing videos with the last of the major US carriers to launch the BlackBerry Z10, Verizon. We started by unboxing the AT&T Z10. Then we unboxed the T-Mobile Z10. Sprint is being lame and not offering the Z10 (though they will be carrying the Q10 and there are rumors of another touch BB going to them), so you won...